In 1972, the Duke of Windsor, who had abdicated the English throne to marry Wallis Warfield Simpson, died in Paris at age 77.

In 1977, 165 people were killed when fire raced through the Beverly Hills Supper Club in Southgate, Ky.

In 1985, David Jacobsen, director of the American University Hospital in Beirut, Lebanon, was abducted by pro-Iranian kidnappers (he was freed 17 months later).

In 1987, Mathias Rust, a 19-year-old West German pilot, landed a private plane in Moscow’s Red Square.

Ten years ago: A magnitude 7.5 earthquake devastated the Russian town of Neftegorsk, killing at least 2,000 people. Bosnia’s foreign minister and three colleagues were killed when rebel Serbs shot down their helicopter.

Five years ago: President Alberto Fujimori of Peru won a lopsided re-election victory in a runoff vote that had been boycotted by his opponent. Juan Montoya won the 84th Indianapolis 500, becoming the first rookie champion since Graham Hill in 1966.

One year ago: The Iraqi Governing Council chose Ayad Allawi, a longtime anti-Saddam Hussein exile, to become prime minister of Iraq’s interim government. Some three dozen people were killed by a powerful earthquake in northern Iran.

Thought for Today: “The only thing I regret about my past is the length of it. If I had to live my life again, I’d make the same mistakes, only sooner.” — Tallulah Bankhead, American actress (1903-1968).